Hidden Dragon Of Democracy

Hidden Dragon Of Democracy
© Surazeus
2024 06 28

Stumbling along the long-deserted trail 
to beg water from Thalia and Clio, 
I ask the Helicon sorority, 
"How long must we endure cruel tyranny 
of greedy King Midas whose grasping hands 
turn everything he touches into trash?" 

After escaping the ludicrous games 
fought between Midas and Tiresias 
in crowded Colosseum of Ambition, 
I kneel before silent statue of gold 
that sits where living Apollo once sang, 
and beg the blind god for honest insight. 

Like the new-born eagle of Claudian, 
I stare into eternal light of truth 
that gleams from god-eye of the mindless sun 
to understand progress of history 
so I can bear bright thunderbolt of Zeus 
on my quest to maintain democracy. 

Since I was the fierce thirteen-year-old boy 
studying history in Texas small-town school, 
I have feared the Republic of America 
like Rome would transform into world empire 
when ambitious imitation of Caesar 
declares himself dictator of our lives. 

Proclaiming himself messiah returned 
to reign on Earth as proud vicar of Christ, 
our haughty Caesar struts on stage of power 
with blustering arrogance of Mussolini 
to steal thorned crown from bloody head of Jesus, 
bleating loud as the sacrificial goat. 

If courageous spirit of brave Aeneas, 
who fights this power-mad Achillean Turnus 
to protect working people of America 
from greedy tyrant wearing mask of Midas, 
were to assassinate the haughty clown, 
what grim Augustus will grasp Sword of Justice? 

Grasping hands of Clio with desperate hope, 
I ask the weeping muse of history, 
"How can we turn away from fate of Rome, 
avoiding cancer of the empire state 
to preserve our justice through liberty 
that maintains this dynamic democracy?" 

Searching through mist of historical change, 
I gaze from grove of Helicon to find 
new Hidden Dragon of Democracy, 
who bears the Holy Grail in his left hand 
and wields Excalibur in his right hand, 
to lead us in our fight for Liberty.